(a) All persons who desire to obtain a grading permit must first obtain the County Official's approval of grading plans or improvement plans for such work. An application for grading plan or improvement plan approval, signed by the owner of the property to be graded, shall be filed with the County Official. All applications shall be reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Res. Code Sec. 21000 et seq.) prior to approval.
(b) The application shall contain all information, documentation and other matters necessary to enable the County Official to make the determinations required by the California Environmental Quality Act, and the appropriate one of the following Sections of this Division, depending upon the type of grading involved:
(1) Agricultural grading: Section 87.904;
(2) Minor grading: Section 87.206;
(3) Previously-approved project grading: Section 87.207;
(4) Major grading: Section 87.208.
(c) Where an owner desires to make modifications to the work shown on approved grading plans or improvement plans (whether before or after a grading permit has been issued), prior to the completion of the grading, the owner may submit an application for a plan change. The County Official shall determine whether the application shall be processed pursuant to Section 87.205, Section 87.206, Section 87.207 or 87.208, based upon the total grading operation as represented in the original grading plans or improvement plans, as modified by the proposed plan change. The County Official may approve the application if he or she determines that the total grading operation as modified by the plan change remains in compliance with this Division; provided that, if the plan change is not in substantial conformance with the approved plans, then prior to approving the plan change, the County Official shall provide the appropriate community sponsor or planning group with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed plan change. The application shall be accompanied by all information, documentation and other matter which the County Official determines to be necessary to enable him or her to make the determinations required by this paragraph. The approval of the plan change shall have no effect on the time within which a grading permit must be obtained under Section 87.203(c).
(Added by Ord. No. 9547 (N.S.), effective 5-9-03; amended by Ord. No. 10804 (N.S.), effective 9-16-22)